THE WORLD : World in Brief / ASIA

Bin Laden issues threat over images

Osama bin Laden in a new audio message criticized the publication of drawings he said were insulting to the prophet Muhammad and warned Europeans of a strong reaction to come.

The message appeared on a militant website that has carried Al Qaeda statements in the past and bore the logo of the extremist group's media wing, As Sahab. It was accompanied by a picture of Bin Laden aiming an assault rifle.

A voice believed to be that of Bin Laden, who is thought to be hiding along the Afghan-Pakistani border, called the cartoons, which have appeared in Danish newspapers, part of a "new crusade" against Islam.